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Abstract:

A twin clutch system for a transmission, particularly for a twin clutch
transmission, including at least two clutches each having a clutch cover
to which at least one disengaging system that actuates the clutches is
fastened. According to the invention, a fastening element is provided
that couples both coupling covers.

Claims:

1. A twin-clutch system for a transmission, comprising:at least two
clutches, each clutch having a clutch disk, a pressure plate and a
counter pressure plate, wherein the respective clutch disk is between the
pressure plate and the counter pressure plate, the two clutches defining
a first side and a second side;a clutch cover for each one of the at
least two clutches, the clutch covers being arranged on the first side of
the clutches;at least one clutch-release system arranged to actuate the
at least two clutches;the at least one clutch-release system being
secured to at least one of the clutch covers, and;a fastening member for
coupling the clutch covers to one another, the fastening member coupling
the clutch covers to one another and spacing the clutch covers from one
another.

2. The twin-clutch system of claim 1, wherein the fastening member
comprises at least one connecting element arranged to interconnect the
clutch covers to one another.

[0002]The present invention is directed to a twin-clutch system for a
transmission, in particular for a twin-clutch transmission, having at
least two clutches, each of which has a clutch cover, to which at least
one clutch-release system which actuates the clutches is secured.

BACKGROUND

[0003]Transmissions, in particular automated transmissions are known from
vehicle engineering. Twin-clutch transmissions are used in vehicles, for
example, to facilitate a gear shifting without any interruption of the
tractive force. Twin-clutch transmissions of this kind, in particular,
have twin- or combi-clutch systems.

[0004]Such twin-clutch systems are actuated via at least one
clutch-release system. In this context, every clutch-release system or
the bearing for each clutch can be mounted on the clutch cover or in the
clutch bell housing. This increases the requirement for rigidity for each
clutch cover, in order to be able to absorb the force acting on the
particular clutch cover. The need arises, in particular, for a
cover-mounted bearing when using a traction-slip control for the
clutches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005]An object of the present invention is, therefore, to propose a
twin-clutch system for which the mechanical loading capacity of the
clutch cover will be increased, in particular.

[0006]The present invention provides a twin-clutch system for a
transmission, in particular for a twin-clutch transmission, having at
least two clutches, each of which has a clutch cover, to which at least
one clutch-release system for actuating the clutches is attached, a
fastening member for coupling the two clutch covers being provided. In
this manner, the clutch covers of the twin-clutch system are fastened to
one another, thereby altogether enhancing the rigidity or loading
capacity.

[0007]Within the scope of one advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, it may be provided for at least one connecting element to be
used as a fastening member, which interconnects the two clutch covers.
Besides enhancing the rigidity of the cover-mounted bearing, i.e., the
bearing of the clutch itself, advantages are also derived for actuation
of the clutch. The deformations caused by the clutch-release forces are
reduced, and the controllability of the clutches is improved on the
whole.

[0008]Preferably, one or even a plurality of bolt-shaped connecting
elements may be used, which have receiving sections at their ends, for
example. As receiving sections, annular grooves or the like may
preferably be used. Other suitable connection possibilities may also be
employed, however, to increase the loading capacity of the clutch cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]Other advantages and advantageous embodiments are derived from the
dependent claims and from the drawing described in the following.

[0010]The only FIGURE of the present invention shows a cross-sectional
detail of a twin-clutch system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011]The proposed twin-clutch system is part of a twin-clutch
transmission, the twin clutch including a first clutch 101 as a start-up
clutch and a second clutch 102 as a power-shift clutch. The two clutches
101, 102 each have a clutch cover 103, 104. Additionally, bearing 105 is
provided on clutch cover 103. Two torsion dampers 106, 107 for clutches
101, 102 are also shown. Moreover, one part of crankshaft 108 of the
vehicle is indicated. The illustrated twin clutch is actuated via at
least one clutch-release system 109.

[0012]In accordance with the present invention, at least one fastening
member is provided. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, a bolt-shaped
connecting element 110 is used as a fastening member to couple clutch
cover 103 of clutch 101 to clutch cover 104 of clutch 102. In addition,
receiving sections are provided at each of the two ends of bolt-shaped
connecting element 10. The receiving sections are formed as annular
grooves 111, 112, in which clutch covers 103 and 104 are secured,
respectively. In this manner, the loading capacity of clutch covers 103,
104 is advantageously increased.

[0013]The claims filed with the application are proposed formulations and
do not prejudice the attainment of further patent protection. The
applicant reserves the right to claim still other combinations of
features that, so far, have only been disclosed in the specification
and/or the drawings.

[0014]The antecedents used in the dependent claims refer, by the features
of the respective dependent claim, to a further embodiment of the subject
matter of the main claim; they are not to be understood as renouncing
attainment of an independent protection of subject matter for the
combinations of features of the dependent claims having the main claim as
antecedent reference.

[0015]Since, in view of the related art on the priority date, the subject
matters of the dependent claims may form separate and independent
inventions, the applicant reserves the right to make them the subject
matter of independent claims or of divisional applications. In addition,
they may also include independent inventions, whose creation is
independent of the subject matters of the preceding dependent claims.

[0016]The exemplary embodiments are not to be understood as limiting the
scope of the invention. Rather, within the framework of the present
disclosure, numerous revisions and modifications are possible, in
particular such variants, elements and combinations and/or materials,
which, for example, by combining or altering individual features or
elements or method steps described in connection with the general
description and specific embodiments, as well as the claims, and
contained in the drawings, may be inferred by one skilled in the art with
regard to achieving the objective, and lead, through combinable features,
to a new subject matter or to new method steps or sequences of method
steps, also to the extent that they relate to manufacturing, testing, and
operating methods.

Patent applications by Burkhard Pollak, Buehl DE

Patent applications by Gerd Ahnert, Sasbach DE

Patent applications by LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG

Patent applications in class Associated with three or more shafts

Patent applications in all subclasses Associated with three or more shafts